Base Pairs Podcast Archive

Base Pairs Episode 17.5: Special interview with Yaniv Erlich

October 16, 2018

We sat down with Dr. Yaniv Erlich, chief scientific officer at MyHeritage DNA, to get his unique perspective on the use of personal genetic info. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 17: Genomes, justice, and the journey here

September 15, 2018

A look at how gene-mapping works, what scientists can tell by looking at your genome, and what it means for your privacy. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 16.5: Fuels of the fuels

August 16, 2018

Rob Martienssen explains how genetic modification and advances in technology factor into the future of fuel as well as cinematic sci-fi fuels. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 16: Big plans for a tiny plant

July 16, 2018

As temperatures around the globe continue to rise, scientists are working hard to develop solutions that deal with the consequences of climate change Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 15.5: Cellular hide and seek

June 15, 2018

Learn how William Coley's daughter founded the Cancer Research Institute, Professor Fearon on the immune system, and white blood cells on screen. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 15: The immune system unleashed

May 15, 2018

Cancer immunotherapy has a long and storied history, one that begins with a young woman suffering from a pain in her hand Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 14.5: Medicine and mad scientists

April 16, 2018

A follow-up discussion with CSHL Fellow Jason Sheltzer from Base Pairs episode 14, “The cancer answer that wasn’t.” Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 14: The cancer answer that wasn’t

March 15, 2018

We look at the "reproducibility crisis" in science, with a cancer researcher discovering something he didn't expect while experimenting with MELK Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 13: A lesson in class

December 15, 2017

We share three stories about classification in life sciences and how genetic information is changing how we define important categories Listen now »

Base Pairs episode 12.5: Big decisions

November 15, 2017

Following last Base Pairs episode, “Good Genes, Bad Science,” we hear from David Micklos, executive director at CSHL’s DNA Learning Center. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 12: Good genes, bad science

October 15, 2017

In the early 1900s, American science took a wrong turn toward eugenics. In this episode, we talk eugenics with experts in both science and history. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 11.5: What Silicon Valley and biology research share

September 15, 2017

A few favorite moments from our talk with theoretical physicist and quantitative biologist, Associate Professor Gurinder “Mickey” Atwal. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 11: Biology, behind the screens

August 15, 2017

A “behind the screens” look at how biology is addressing its “most wonderful problem”—too much data. Associate Professor Gurinder S. “Mickey” Atwal Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 10.5: Tomato baby and its family

July 14, 2017

Plant scientist Zachary Lippman tells stories from the field of bizarre tomatoes, intensely hot peppers, and giant pumpkins. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 10: CRISPR vs. climate change

June 15, 2017

In this episode, we talk with a plant scientist about how CRISPR could help agriculture deal with climate change. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 9.5: Redefining biologists, redefining genes

May 16, 2017

We talk with Molly Hammell about peering into deep space using a high-tech telescope, we also talk to Tom Gingeras about redefining the gene. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 9: Dark matter of the genome, part 2

April 15, 2017

In this episode of Base Pairs, we question the mythos that is “junk DNA” and explore the mysterious non-coding portions of the genome. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 8: Dark matter of the genome, part 1

March 15, 2017

In this episode, we explore how studying this unfamiliar territory could help scientists understand diseases such as ALS. Listen now »

Base Pairs Bonus Episode: Molecules and a mission

January 27, 2017

In this bonus episode, we explain the molecules and the metaphor of our podcast name: Base Pairs. Listen now »

Base Pairs Episode 7: The brain atlas

December 14, 2016

In this episode, we explore some of the problems neuropsychiatric drug discovery faces and how a single, simple method may help. Listen now »